Carpenter takes top spot in crash-marred Indy 500 qualifying

The only full-time owner-driver in the IndyCar Series took advantage of a cooling early evening track for a four-lap average of 230.468 mph on the first day of Indianapolis 500 qualifying, Takuma Sato was second at 230.382, and Scott Dixon, the 2008 Indy winner, third at 230.333.

[...] came a rain delay that pushed the start of qualifying from late morning to the hottest part of the afternoon and forced the first drivers in qualifying line to make their only allowed attempt on a hot surface that lacked the grip needed to contend for the pole speeds.

Doctors at Indiana University Methodist Hospital said the 38-year-old driver has multiple fractures in his pelvis and a fractured right hip.

Safety workers arrived on the scene in about 10 seconds but needed about 10 minutes to get Bourdais out of the car and onto a backboard.

Helio Castroneves earned the No. 1 spot in the two even-numbered races.

Power was the only Penske driver to make the shootout after the IndyCar Grand Prix winner finished sixth at 230.072.

"The whole week, the car had pretty good balance but for some reason, we're not that fast," said Castroneves, a three-time 500 winner and a four-time Indy pole winner.

The IndyCar Series was overtaken by a new tag-team Saturday — Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti Autosport.